Such feeling press'd upon the soul, A feeling sanctified By one soft trickling tear that stole Borne gaily o'er the sea, Fresh from the beauty and the bliss Of English liberty? A JEWISH FAMILY. IN A SMALL VALLEY OPPOSITE ST. GOAR, UPON THE RHINE. GENIUS of Raphael! if thy wings To pencil dear and pen, Thou wouldst forego the neighbouring Rhine, And all his majesty A studious forehead to incline O'er this poor family. The Mother-her thou must have seen, In spirit, ere she came To dwell these rifted rocks between, Of playfulness, and love, and joy, Downcast, or shooting glances far, I speak as if of sense beguil'd ; Yet am I with the Jewish Child, I see the dark-brown curls, the brow, The smooth transparent skin, Refin'd, as with intent to show The holiness within; The grace of parting Infancy By blushes yet untam'd; Age faithful to the mother's knee, Two lovely Sisters, still and sweet Such beauty hath th' Eternal pour'd Though of a lineage once abhorr'd, Mysterious safeguard, that, in spite Of Palestine, of glory past, A PORTRAIT. SHE was a phantom of delight To be a moment's ornament; Her eyes as stars of Twilight fair; Like Twilight too her dusky hair; I saw her upon nearer view, A countenance in which did meet And now I see with eye serene LUCY. THREE years she grew in sun and shower, This Child I to myself will take; She shall be mine, and I will make Myself will to my darling be Both law and impulse: and with me The Girl, in rock and plain, In earth and heaven, in glade and bower, Shall feel an overseeing power To kindle or restrain. She shall be sportive as the Fawn And hers shall be the breathing balm, The Floating Clouds their state shall lend To her; for her the willow bend: Nor shall she fail to see Even in the motions of the Storm Grace that shall mould the Maiden's form By silent sympathy. The Stars of Midnight shall be dear To her; and she shall lean her ear In many a secret place Where Rivulets dance their wayward round, And beauty born of murmuring sound Shall pass into her face. |